Lighting the Dark Web

Behind the Onion Router (TOR) protocol is a very noble idea – to create a global communications channel for providing anonymity between two or more entities on the Internet, in order to facilitate freedom of expression in various forms, and promote democracy. This is even more important when people are facing hostile environments and autocratic governments. TOR network was originally funded by US research institutions, as well as other organizations that contribute to fostering democracy such as the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). It is supported by volunteers all over the world who give their time and provide their computers as servers, to run the TOR network and better the TOR communication protocol.

Sadly, TOR is also used for unwanted, ominous, and illicit activities such as selling controlled substances (drugs and medicine), fraud, identity theft, child pornography, human trafficking, weapons, inducing extremism, and advocating and inciting terrorism. The TOR network affords partially the infrastructure of the so called Dark web, a significant part of the cyber space, not reachable by the common search engines, and a fertile market for sinister and shady transactions.

To discern between legitimate and illegitimate activities on TOR is utterly difficult and challenging. Nord Forsk, within its Nordic Societal Security Programme, is funding four projects for four years, starting in 2017. One of those in which DSV is involved deals with the TOR network and is termed as “Police Detectives on the TOR Network”. Four academic institutions, Norwegian Police University College, Stockholm university, Northumbria university in Newcastle and Open University in the Netherlands are partnering to research the best ways to collect information on the highly dynamic TOR network.

The collection and analysis of the information should be done by adhering to the principles of forensics soundness, law and ethics, and in accordance with human rights and rigorous scientific standards. The Nord Forsk magazine recently published an article about the PDTOR, which also contains excerpts from the interviews by Professor Wouter Stol from Open university and Professor Oliver Popov from Stockholm university. The full text of the article
Delicate Balance between Anonymity and Law Enforcement (691 Kb)